Contents

The series is set during Bruce Wayne's early years as the Batman, following his initial period of battling organized crime. Over the course of the season, he hones his skills with the assistance of his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce is introduced to Alfred's goddaughter Tatsu Yamashiro. Tatsu is a martial arts swordsmaster hired to act as Bruce's bodyguard, but also recruited to act as a superhero partner to Batman.

Initial promotional art for the series depicted Alfred armed with guns and fighting alongside Batman. This upset fans of the Batman mythos, prompting a response from producers.[3]

After Batman: The Brave and the Bold ended its run in November 2011, a new series went under production, so that Batman could return to a more "serious tone".[7] With Batman receiving a new sidekick, Outsiders member Katana, Register even commented that "Katana is gonna be his new Robin, but not necessarily."[1] The series was a 3D computer-animated format, similar to the earlier Green Lantern: The Animated Series's animation style.[8][4]

In the wake of the 2012 Aurora shooting, which occurred during a screening of the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises, it was announced that the series content would be altered in order to make the firearms in the show look less realistic.[9] In addition initial announcements for the series were accompanied with promotional art that was not intended for public release, depicting Alfred as a gun-toting butler. This upset fans of the Batman mythos, who argued against Alfred's participation in Batman's exploits, and his use of deadly firearms as against the Batman's principles. In response to fan criticism, producer Glen Murakami acknowledged that this poster image was an inaccurate representation of what the character's actual role would be. He elaborated that the poster was intended to be an action-themed shot that displayed the cast of characters, but that Alfred's portrayal had been misleadingly made more exciting. "You can't have an action pose of a guy standing with a tray", joked Murakami. Mitch Watson also noted the problem presented if Alfred were fighting alongside Batman, as he would be recognized as Bruce Wayne's butler, and thus reveal the identity of Batman. Regardless, both producers insisted that Alfred would remain true to his intended characterization as a mentor to Batman, who could potentially help Batman if a story plot called for it.[3] Scott Thill, technology and pop culture commentator for Wired magazine, praised the initial choice to debut the villain Anarky on television, claiming the character was relevant following the rise of the Occupy movement and the hacktivist activities of Anonymous.[10]

In promoting the series, Warner Bros. debuted a trailer a month prior to the series premier, featuring action sequences from the first three episodes, highlighting Batman, Professor Pyg and Toad, Magpie, and Anarky.[11] On July 2, the opening title sequence was released to Entertainment Weekly, a week prior to the series premiere.[12] It depicts Batman, Alfred, Katana, and the Batmobile, in a stylized red background with stark red lighting effects, contrasted by dark shadows and silhouettes. The show's opening theme is composed by the indie rock band the Dum Dum Girls.[13]

The requirements of 3D animation at times necessitated that inanimate objects such as ships and city streets were built, rather than simply drawn, creating a need for the completion of entire set designs. This would increase production times, but later allow the developers to bring cinematic qualities of lighting and camera play to the series. Batman's utility belt was fully recreated from cardboard and worn by producer Glen Murakami's design team, to test how the belt would function while in motion. "If you really built it, it would work", said Watson. Batarangs were designed to flip-open and function when retrieved from the belt. The Batmobile was also subjected to scrutiny, as a "certain amount of weight" was added to it as it moved on city streets, out of concern that it would be unbelievable otherwise.[6]

Three months after the series premiere, Beware the Batman was pulled from the Cartoon Network schedule and put on hiatus on October 23, 2013. Cartoon Network did not provide an official explanation, leading fans to believe that the series had already been canceled.[14] Cartoon Network then moved the series to the Toonami block on the network's late-night Adult Swim showcase. Toonami first aired the series on Saturday, May 10, 2014, during the early morning time slots.[15] Cartoon Network then declared the series a financial failure and decided to "write it off". On September 28, Toonami ran a marathon consisting of the final seven previously unaired episodes.[16]

The show made its Canadian premiere on October 11, 2013 on Teletoon.[17]

In the series premiere, eco-terrorists Professor Pyg and Mister Toad are hunting Gotham City's resident billionaires (Simon Stagg, Michael Holt), and Bruce Wayne to make them pay for their crimes against nature. Now, with the stakes being the billionaires' lives, Batman has to solve this case fast! But when Wayne's butler, Alfred, is kidnapped in Bruce's place, Batman must save him. Later, Alfred hires a new bodyguard for Bruce: the beautiful and deadly Tatsu Yamashiro.

Batman is hot on the heels of an extremely dangerous thief named Magpie, who not only sports razor sharp fingernails laced with poison but is also invulnerable to pain. But Batman is not the only one after her. Lieutenant James Gordon is after her as well. And the two will ultimately go head-to-head to catch her.

A new villain has arrived in Gotham to challenge Batman: Anarky. Resembling a ghost image of Batman, Anarky prides himself on his brilliance and intends to prove it to Batman by manipulating a pair of street thugs, Junkyard Dog and Daedalus (known as Doodlebug in the comics), to do his bidding. But Anarky's real plan is far more devastating: seeking to create a disaster seen by all of Gotham and proving once and for all that even the great Batman is powerless to protect his fair city from the clutches of Anarky.

This marks the first appearance of Anarky, Batman's arch nemesis in the series.

Introducing the prototype of his newest product to the entire world, the Ion Cortex, a device capable of solving the world's energy crisis, Bruce Wayne hires brilliant scientist Dr. Jason Burr to work on the project. The announcement also draws the attention of the League of Assassins. When Silver Monkey, one of the League's members, attacks Wayne Manor, it is up to Alfred and Katana to keep the assassin at bay until Batman returns. But Katana is armed and ready for the task with the legendary Soultaker Sword, a sacred weapon she stole from the League of Assassins back when she used to work for them.

Note: This episodes marks the first time where Tatsu Yamashiro is referred to as "Katana".

Strange, life-sized toy army men have started appearing all over Gotham... armed with real weapons! When Batman investigates, however, he discovers that they are not toys, but people trapped inside explosive shells. All the clues lead to a former mob accountant named Humphrey Dumpler (AKA Humpty Dumpty) who used to work for crime boss Tobias Whale, but went insane when Whale tried to silence him before he could testify. Now, Dumpty wants payback and the next person he's targeted is Lt. James Gordon.

After responding to a break-in at the chemical labs at Stagg Industries, Batman rescues a security guard named Rex Mason who had been exposed to a weaponized toxic gas known as "Project Metamorpho." Soon, Rex begins to mutate and gains the ability to manipulate the elements of his own body. Terrified and unable to control his new abilities, Rex becomes a fugitive. Realizing that this metamorphosis is slowly killing Rex, Batman sets out to find a cure. But Rex is only concerned about one thing: Sapphire Stagg (the woman he loves) and he would risk all of Gotham to be with her. But her father Simon Stagg holds secrets of his own and will do anything to keep them apart.

With the League of Assassins knowing where the Soultaker Sword is, but unable to get Katana to return it, Silver Monkey (with the help of Bethanie Ravencroft) decides that the only course of action is to kidnap Bruce Wayne and hold him for ransom... his life for the sword. When Katana shows up to turn over the Sword and rescue Wayne, Alfred causes a diversion, buying Wayne enough time to suit up and join the battle. Teaming up with Katana to fight Silver Monkey and his men, Batman finds himself in an all-out ninja fight when Lady Shiva shows up in person.

Tobias Whale is the most powerful gangster in Gotham City, and, after years of trying, Lt. Gordon finally has the evidence to put him away for good. But Whale is not going to be "harpooned" easily. After his lawyer demands that Gordon release Whale, Gordon's daughter Barbara is kidnapped. With no other options and time running out, Gordon is forced to ask Batman for help. While monitoring Whale's men, Batman learns that Barbara has been taken to "The Cauldron" (a former industrial park that became the most dangerous part of the city following the financial crisis years ago) which is populated by a gang of criminals known as "the Ghosts." With Katana's help, Batman stages a raid on the Cauldron. But the real threat here is not the Ghosts, but the man guarding Barbara: Whale's chief enforcer, Phosphorus Rex!

Desperate to gain access to the Ion Cortex after the failed kidnapping of Jason Burr, Lady Shiva sends one of her specialized agents to steal the information directly from Burr's mind: a wall-crawling, half-computer assassin named Cypher. Batman and Katana try to stop Cypher, but Katana gets herself captured. Now, Batman must find a way to take down Cypher while he is in control of both Burr and Katana.

After stealing a valuable package from the League of Assassins, Anarky makes a deal with Lady Shiva to steal a deadly virus, in return for her "package." At the same time, he informs Batman where he can find Lady Shiva: the Gotham Contagion Research Center (a building that handles rare and deadly viruses). Although they know it's a trap, Batman and Katana go anyway. Once inside, Anarky releases one of the airborne viruses into the building. Now Batman, Katana, and Lady Shiva have to escape the building before its breach protocol is initiated, while staying ahead of two mutated assassins. In the end, Anarky gives Lady Shiva back the package he stole which contains the body of Ra's al Ghul.

Professor Pyg and Mister Toad are back, and this time, they've set their sights on Gotham's elite couture culture. Leaving clues that only Batman can decipher, they attack both a fashion model and a clothing designer. Even though Batman and Katana are able to save them, they end up uncovering Professor Pyg and Mister Toad's master plan: to destroy the yacht where the after-party for Gotham's Fashion Week is being held.

Unbeknownst to both Alfred and Katana, Batman has been making visits to Blackgate Penitentiary to see Magpie. Helping her to regain some of her former memories, Batman has felt guilty that she did not get the psychological care she needed. When Magpie sees Batman with Katana, however, she breaks out, willing to kill Katana in a jealous rage.

Jason Burr (who is still under Cypher's control) steals the Ion Cortex for the League of Assassins as Lady Shiva brings Ra's al Ghul out of suspended animation. Batman believes that he has turned to evil, but Katana does not. Batman, Katana, and Alfred then find themselves in a difficult situation as they battle the League of Assassins in a fight to save Gotham City from darkness. As they try to stop Jason from activating the Ion Cortex, Katana discovers that he is being controlled by Cypher. With Katana's help, he breaks free, Batman promises to help him, but he has to help shut down the cortex.

Before he can do so, Lady Shiva uses the sword of souls on him, draining his soul into the sword. Both Batman and Kantana are captured, but Ra's al Ghul allows Batman to fight him, (all the while being plagued by memories of Alfred's early lessons to him) and as a result of him losing is captured by Ra's al Ghul, while Katana and Alfred are left scared and alone.

Batman makes an unlikely alliance with Silver Monkey to escape from the League of Assassins. Katana questions Alfred on why we left Batman and if what Ra's al Ghul said was true: Did he kill her father?
Alfred tells her that they were outnumbered and wouldn't be any good to him if they were dead; he also denies what Guam said, Katana hopes he is telling the truth, for his sake. Meanwhile, Katana, Alfred, Lieutenant Gordon, and Barbara take action by trying to hijack the cortex, as Ra's al Ghul's attempts to cleanse the city during as the blackout has left it terrorized by the Ghosts and other criminals. Batman escapes but at the cost of Silver Monkey's life. Katana finds out the truth about her father, and tries to kill him but both are taken away an put in separate cells. Ghul tries to get Batman to surrender, but he refuses. Before he escape, Batman unlocked Blurr's backdoor, allowing Barbara to hack in.

Ghul frees all the criminals that Batman put away in hopes of defeating him.

Ra's al Ghul recruits all of the super villains Batman has brought down (Professor Pyg, Mister Toad, Magpie, Tobias Whale, Phosphorus Rex, and Cypher) to eliminate Batman in exchange for control of a piece of the city.
Ghul makes an offer to Katana, kill Alfred and he will release her father from the Sword of Souls, who has been trapped ever since Alferd escape from him long ago; he sweetens the offer even more by also willing to let her go. Katana is about to kill Alfred but wants to hear the truth from him. Alfred tells her that her father and him were fighting over the soul and as it was about to drain Alfred's soul, but instead he let go, allowing the sword to drain his soul. Alfred remembers dropping it and running; he soon understands that her father did it to allow him to escape. With this new information, she refuses to kill him. Just as Ghul is about to kill him, he receives a message that changes everything. Batman races to find Ra's location and save both his partners and the entire city, he makes a deal with Mr. Whale and is brought to Ghul as his "prisoner," but is betrayed. Ghul and Batman fight, Batman's partners sense that Batman is stalling, giving the time Lt. Gordon and Barbara needs to hack and disable the Ion Cortex once and for all. Ghul understand what it feels to lose, Batman tells Ghul that he can't beat him one on one, but that doesn't mean that Ghul doesn't have a weakness. Ghul asks what is his, Batman tells him that it is the belief that he has no weakness. With the Sword of Souls, Batman releases the souls, much to the surprise of Ghul, who thought that Batman would trap him instead. With the souls now released, they disappear with Ghul. Katana sees her father one last time before he leaves. Alfred leaves to set his wrongs from his past life's right, while Batman and Katana set out to continue saving Gotham.

Trivia: There are at least two Looney Tunes references in this episode: one near the beginning when Tobias Whale calls Professor Pyg "Porky", and later when Pyg calls Magpie "Tweety".

Six months after the blackout caused by the League of Assassins; Batman trains Katana harder than he ever has, and Katana can't seem to take much more. Batman/ Bruce Wayne is showing signs of unusual behavior ever since Alfred left. Gordon is now the new police commissioner, and new mayor Marion Grange appoints District Attorney Harvey Dent to put a stop to the city's "mask and cape crisis." Harvey Dent accuses Gordon of working with the Batman, but tells him he is not; which turns out to be false, he needs Batman help to solve the case. Harvey Dent talks to Gordon, claiming that Batman did it, and bringing him in will show everyone who he is, with the mask removes of course. Gordon doesn't believe the evidence is strong enough to bring him in. Gordon states that they can bring him in for questioning, but the mask is another story. Harvey Dent thinks that Gordon is protecting him but Gordon calmly tells him that if he keeping pushing Batman, he may need protection. Meanwhile, Batman and Gordon both come to the conclusion that Batman is being framed for an attempted attack on the mayor's life. Dent attempts to apprehend Batman, and Gordon tries to stop them, but can't. With no other choice, Batman and Katana escape Dent and the police. Batman decides to give that person what they want and kidnaps Dent. Because of his actions, Gordon is forced to set out to hunt for him. It turns out to be Anarky who framed Batman. He places wrist bombs on each one of them, and threatens to blow something else, unless Batman walks with Harvey Dent to surrender to the police. Katana thinks his plan is to simple but, Anarky tells Katana that he will detonate the wrist bombs as soon as he is arrested. Meanwhile, Batman takes Dent to go and disable the other bomb, while he is working to disable the wrist bombs. Katana tries to call Anarky's bluff of the wrist bombs and flees, but Anarky follows her. The police catch up to Batman and Dent just as he is about to crack the code; Batman tries to tell them of the wrist bombs, but Dent doesn't allow it. Batman subdues the first wave and tries to talk to Gordon, but it isn't until both Anarky and Katana arrive that Gordon believes him. As they fight, Batman manages to slips all their wrist bombs onto Anarky, and tells him that he won't detonate the bomb without him dying too, but he does. He escapes through the sewer system. Everyone survives the attack, but Dent wants him arrested but Gordon refuses. Katana voices her concerns about him, but he tells her he is fine. The mayor decides to fund Dent's operation, much to Gordon's dislike. However, she thinks him it may be the only way to stop him. Katana calls Alfred, telling him that they need him.

A mystery being known as the "Golem of Old Gotham," starts stopping crime from armored men. Both Katana and the police suspect it to be Batman, but he tells Katana that he isn't. While in patrol they find the Golem and begin chasing him, however it is in the area where Batman parents were murdered and begins to have flashes of the event. Katana asks what's wrong, but Batman says that nothing is wrong. After a lengthy chase, they are forced to stop when the police get involved, for Batman doesn't want a confertation with the police, at least not yet; instead they go back to take a look at the armor the men were wearing. Soon, Batman and Katana team up with Rex Mason (who has been classified as the "Golem of Old Gotham") as they combat an army of armored thugs that have been terrorizing several parts of Old Gotham after they were supplied the high-tech armors from Stagg Enterprises. In addition, they also dodge Harvey Dent's newly created Special Crimes Unit, which has been ordered to take down both the armored criminals and the vigilantes fighting them. After the fail attempt capture the vigilantes, Dent is approached by Anarky to help bring down Batman. Batman figures it out that it was Sapphire who give armor to the thugs. Batman warns her that she does not want be his enemy; she asks if the man she saw was Rex, but he denies that it was him.

Note: At the end of the episode, Rex ends up taking the codename "Metamorpho" and alludes to the future emergence of the Outsiders.

Batman, Katana, Commissioner Gordon, Mayor Grange, and Tobias Whale all wake up after being drugged and kidnapped by Humpty Dumpty. According to Dumpler, there is a culprit among them and the only way to escape his Murder Mystery Game is to figure out who. With each clue, however, the game becomes deadlier and begins to take its toll on Batman who's obsessed with solving the mystery and defeating Dumpty. While trying to figure out one for the clues, Katana questions Batman priorities. It soon becomes clear that all of them had a part to play in the ruining the life of an innocent man, name Ernie: Whale for smuggling and letting him take the fall, Batman for giving the tip on the shipment, Gordon for the arrest, Grange for sentencing him to prison meant, and Katana for getting the weapons, including Dumpty, who stood by and did nothing. Dumpty has brought the man who all of them are responsible for ruining his life, and give him the chance at revenge, but he refuses. Dumpy tries to destroy them, but Batman states that he is as guilty as they are. In the end, Ernie is set free, while Humpty and Whale are arrested. Gordon lets Batman and Katana go. Batman lets Katana go for awhile for questioning him.

A master thief known as The Key has stolen the most valuable piece of code-breaking software in the world. Batman and Katana try to retrieve the software from him, but he is arrested before they can catch him, by Harvey Dent. The Key is sent to jail, despite Batman's warnings that sending him to prison with the code is a bad idea, for Dent's new Anti-Vigilant Force is looking at him in a bad light. With Key at Blackgate Penitentiary, Batman tricks Katana into thinking he is going to bed, so he can find a way into Blackgate. When Katana decides to sleep as well, Batman has himself arrested and sent to prison to recover the dangerous software. There, Dent and the police try to remove his mask. However, a high pitched frequency is emitted. They plead for him to stop it, and he complies. Dent decides to let him keep it on, for with his costume, the other prisoners are more than likely to try to kill him. Gordon soon finds out that Dent has arrested Batman, and takes action by announcing that he will barge in with non-lethal force. With the mayor supporting Dent, however, he is forced to stand down. Unfortunately, the Key has been taken hostage by the prison's "king", Killer Croc. After freeing himself from handcuffs, Batman now must now fight his way through Blackgate's entire prisoner population, while Katana works with Commissioner Gordon and Oracle a.k.a. Barbra Gordon to save him. In order to get the "Key," Batman has to fight Killer Croc and his friends for it. Outside, Oracle helps Katana get into the prison through several underground tunnels. As Batman fights, a newly arrived Tobias Whale gives him tips on his opponents, allowing him the advantage to defeat Killer Crocs fellow inmates. Gordon pressures Dent to take action by threatening to go to the media, telling them that it's Dent's fault that they aren't doing anything. As Batman continues fighting Croc, he notices a skin rash, and uses it to his advantage to overpower Killer Croc. Unfortunately his breakdown finally gets the best of him, as he beats Croc senseless, severely damaging his body. Quickly, Katana arrives and halts Batman from mindlessly killing Croc. After cooling down, Batman tells Key to cooperate or he's next. Nearly scared to death, he agrees. Some of the prisoners want to still fight Batman, but before they can, the police arrive, and the two leave. Gordon tells Batman and Katana that everyone is unharmed, the prisoners are being reprocessed, and the Key wouldn't be a problem anymore. Gordon says that he thinks Batman scared Key, also commenting that Batman should see a doctor. He denies it and walks away. Katana then explains to him she knows what he needs, and follows him home. Meanwhile, Killer Croc has escaped into the sewers, plotting his next move against Batman. Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce is badly hurt from his encounter, and as he lays in bed, Alfred returns home to look after him.

Note: Penguin is referenced by Harvey Dent and is seen on a wanted poster.

Katana is fighting Mr. Pig and Mr. Toad without Batman (who's at home sleeping/ healing), but fails and they escape. Batman is having nightmares of his close encounter with Killer Croc. Alfred considers that it is perhaps time for Bruce/ Batman to take a break, perhaps see friends. Bruce tells him that he had one friend, Alfred, and he walked away from him. Alfred claims that Bruce was not the reason he left; Bruce asks if they were really going to discuss it, Alfred states that he came back when Bruce needed him, and he will tell him where he was and why when it is the right time. For he is far more concern with Bruce/Batman than himself. Bruce tells him that he is afraid for what will happen if he puts the suit on, for he almost killed Killer Croc in that fight back at the prison. Alfred says to perhaps let Katana look after Gotham for awhile, while he takes time to recuperate. Meanwhile, in order to keep his enemies closer, Bruce Wayne befriends Harvey Dent and the captain of the SCU, Dane Lisslow, with whom he makes a strong connection. At dinner with them, he learns Dent is trying to win his support in helping him become mayor, but Bruce is unsure, for Dent would then stop at nothing to bring Batman to "justice." Bruce doesn't seem to connect with Dent, but with his friend Dane. Martial Arts seems to be the key that they have in common. Elsewhere, Katana is training Barbra to defend herself; who gives herself the name, "oracle." Finally he tells Dent to send his proposal, but their meeting is cut shut when Bruce sees what looks to be a flying bat creature. He chases after it, confronts it, but it gets away. Bruce tells Katana and Alfred, but they don't seem to believe him. Except that the last few knights there have been break-ins at chemical facilities; the same as what Professior Pig and Toad were breaking into. Bruce thinks it's time for Batman to get back in game, Alfred disagrees considering his condition, but Bruce doesn't care. They find that it's only animal sequence DNA chemicals that are being stolen. At one of the facilities, Batman and Katana soon encounter Man-Bat creature, after a chase, Batman brings it to the ground, Professor Pig and Mr. Toad arrive and they escape, but not until a confertation with the police. Back at the cave, they learn from Man-Bat he was an experimental result of animal army of mutant humans, and so Toad can get a wife. Batman asks if he can lead them to pig and toad, and he answers that he can, but it may be too late, for they have what they need. At their hideout, they are just about to begin; they get there in time to stop them before they can inject any more people. While Batman is fighting with Pig, Toad goes after them, but is to late for Katana and Man-bat get the hostages to safety. However, Toad gets Man-Bat under is control and captures Katana, planning to her into his future bride. Batman defeats Pig, but a control Man-bat starts fighting him. It doesn't take long for him to break Man-bat from Toads control. During that time, Pig and Toad are trying to turn Katana into an animal, but Batman intervenes. They are sent to prison; Batman tells Man-bat to look for a cure, but he is scared since he is not human. Batman tells him that what's on the outside doesn't matter, it matter what's on the inside. Man-bat asks how he will find him if he needs help, Batman replies that they will find him.
At the mansion, Bruce is sparring with Dane, and agrees to support Dent to keep an eye on him.

Ava Kirk, an old friend of Bruce Wayne's comes to him for help, when her father, Paul, has been cloned by The Council, a mysterious organization to create an army of super soldier. They find out that his daughter is in Gotham and go to find, but so does the mysteries council. While Katana is fighting them off, one of them tries to kidnap the daughter, but Bruce protects her, and decides to bring her to the mansion for safety. She doesn't understand what is happening, but agrees to stay; Bruce tries to get reacquainted. They try to understand the mystery of the men's work relations, and the men that attack them. They are led to a warehouse full of the attackers, but are disintegrated by another attacker. They find out it was the daughters father, who was a mission, and was known as the Manhunter, but when he got wounded he was left for dead. He was then found by the council, and there his life changed. A scientist took his skills and DNA to build an inorganic army of the Manhunter. When Ava Kirk discovered this, he freed Paul. Her father spent in suspend animation, while they were creating the army, that is why is young. The soldiers break into the mansion and kid napped Paul's daughter, leaving Alfred. Paul and Ava thought it was best to contact Bruce in hopes on protecting his daughter, and once she was safe, then Paul could worry about the soldiers. Batman apologizes for the misunderstanding; a soldier appears, Paul explains that they are controlled through a neuron network. It tells Paul that he has his daughter and if he ever wants to see her again he will come alone to the Gotham bridge. Batman offers to help, and the Manhunter excepts, but Batman knocks him out in order to bring him to the cave, since it is a secret. After making more of the ant-army-toxin, they head out to stop the army and save Paul's daughter. They stop the army, but with Ava's life threat, Paul surrenders himself. However, it turns out that he has a clone which they hack into. Paul tells him that he and the council are done using him. With Ava safe and the man in jail, her father comes to save good-bye, for he must leave to make sure that there is only "one Paul." The Manhunter asks Batman to watch over her while he is gone, which he agrees.

The episode opens with Batman and Katana chasing after Anarky, however he leads to them to a trap with the police. Despite his trap, both Batman and Katana defeat the police and escape. Mayor Grange decides to resign as mayor, leading to an election for a new mayor. The media shows that Dent's obsession with the Batman may cost him the election. Through Desperation to rid the city of Batman, Harvey Dent allies himself with Anarky, who recruits a new "hero" to take Batman's place: the newest member of the Special Crimes Unit, Deathstroke. Bruce has arranged a date for Katana with Dane, but they are awarded with each other. While Bruce is on a date with Ava.

Dane soon has to leave, for Dent needs him, and give Katana a way home. During Bruce's date, man with guns come in wanting jewels, but seeing Bruce among the crowd, they decided they want him. Before Bruce can stop them, a man burst through the window and defeats them. Dent presents the figure as Deathstroke; Batman, Katana, and Alfred attempt to figure out who he is. Katana thinks they go and look for him, but Batman says that he will find them instead. Elsewhere a sale is going down, and Batman and Katana Intervene, so does Deathstroke. Deathstroke wants to arrested him, but Batman replies that they are on the same side. Deathstroke disagrees, for Batman is a hero, and that and Katana are his weaknesses. Deathstroke mentions that he is leverage, and they fight. Deathstroke runs and plant's a bomb where a civilian is working. Batman saves the civilian, while Katana continues the chase after Deathstroke. Deathstroke proves that she is no match for him. Batman catches up, but not before Deathstroke detonates a bomb that injures Katana. Batman brings her to Ava for treatment; Batman wants to move her as soon she Is stable for her being there may endanger the other patients. Ava promises to take care of her, and asks Batman to get who is responsible; which he agrees and thanks her for watching over her. They discover that Deathstroke is a hired mercenary, who will stop at nothing until the job he was hire for is done. Batman thinks it was Dent, but he doesn't have the connections to hire him, so it must be some else who hired him. Batman heads to visit Dent; it shows Dent, Anarky, and Deathstroke in a meeting, with Dent telling him to be more careful. However, Deathstroke doesn't seem to care, all the matters to him is getting the job done. Dent tells Anarky to talk some sense into him, but Deathstroke proves that he is not a match for Deathstroke. Dent thinks he will kill him, but instead kidnaps him. Batman finds out that it was Anarky who hired Deathstroke, but Deathstroke turned on him. Anarky gives him a choice, fight him or save Dent from Deathstroke; Batman decides save Dent. Dent asks Deathstroke why he betrayed him, when he was the one who hired him along with Anarky. Deathstroke explains that yes he was hired by him to get rid of Batman, and that I'd nothing more than the bait for Batman. Batman knows he will expect him, so he does something unexpected and asks the media to give him a ride. During the ride, the media asks why he is willing to risk his life to save Dent, despite the fact that he is trying to get rid of him; Batman answers that he is here to save all citizens, no matter how misguided they are. Deathstroke gives Batman two choice: He presses a button and Dent dies, or kill him and save Dent. Either way, Deathstroke believes that it will end Batman being a hero. They fight, as the media watches on. Both realize that neither will concede, so Deathstroke triggers the explosive to kill Dent, and attempts to flee by jumping off, however Batman manages to catch both, and states that none of them will die, but Deathstroke cuts the line holding him, and disappears in the fog below. Despite saving Dent, he still believes that Batman is the bad guy, and that it is his job to uphold the law, but after getting a call from Anarky, Batman comments on if dealing with criminals is still holding up the law? He then leaves, and heads home. At home Bruce, with Katana and Alfred they watch the news proclaiming him as a hero, however Dent still willing to capture Batman. The mayor race is still on; the media questions Dent involvement, but denies it. As they watch, he thinks about Deathstroke falling to him death. Alfred claims that it wasn't Batman's fault, that Deathstroke chose his fate, Bruce comments that he knows it isn't not Batman's fault.

When Batman and Katana are ambushed by Killer Croc in the subway, and become trap ina hold filled what liquid stone that dries quickly. Batman calls Alfred for assistance, by he is too far away to get there in time, and things become worse when is knock unconscious by Killer Croc. It soon becomes up to Barbara Gordon to save them. There's a few problems: Barbara is on a date! And with two off-duty cops following her, she's stuck in a three-way mess. To make things worse, she has to save them by rerouting the train's routes, but her phone keeps losing service. She saves Batman and Katana without anyone finding out, but Killer Croc comes after her; meanwhile, Alfred regains consciousness and frees Batman and Katana, just in time for them to save Oracle. They defeat Killer Croc, and everyone goes home safe and sound.

At a rally to announce Harvey Dent's run for mayor, Bruce Wayne is "assassinated" by "Batman." Katana fights him, but he escapes. The police search for him, but with no luck and declares him dead; however, Bruce survives, but badly injured and instead of telling the world, Bruce decides it's better to stay dead, and only tells Alfred, Katana, and Barbara. During that time Batman begins to hunts for his impostor. Batman attacks the police and tells that this is their only warning to stay out of his way. At Bruce's "funeral," Dent and Commission Godean announce that both of them will work together to hunt Batman, but "Batman," attacks the people at the funeral. It turns out that they were using the funeral as bait to make the impostor Batman come out, allowing the real Batman to chase him. In the end the impostor escapes; Batman believes it to be Humpty Dumpty, because of weapons used, but it may not be the case. For the weapons came from a place called the "armory." Barbara becomes anxious because they have called yet for her help. Meanwhile, Batman goes to the armory, with Katana near by to find some answers. Sadly, the police are there, and he is forced to defend himself against them. While in the building, Bruce's friend Dane appears to help, for he believes someone else "killed" Bruce, not Batman. Batman thought the armory was sealed after the wars of the past, but Dane tells him that Dent open it up for storing police equipment. Barbara calls Katana telling she knows who Batman is; Dent continues telling Batman, that ever since Dent got his special force, he has been keeping the weapons here; however, if Gordon ever found out how much firepower he really had, he would lose it. Batman discovers that Dane was the one to kill Bruce, and brought him here to kill him. Dent arrives, and believes that Batman has Dane. Batman is chasing Dane to a room, where he appears in his version on the Batman. They fights and the real Batman defeats Dane; Batman finds out that it was Deathstroke who is the one pulling the strings, and killed Bruce and framed Batman for revenge. Dane only did the things he did for Deathstroke has his son. The police arrive to "save Dane," but Dane attempts to blow them up; He succeeds, and dies. Dent tries to capture Batman, but ends up burn. Batman escapes, but injure and Katana takes him home. The media claims that the attack was by Batman, and that he killed Dane. No one knowing that it was Dane all along. Too make matters worst, the biggest bounty has been placed on Batman, the biggest in history. As for Harvey Dent, he is expected to recover. They don't seem to understand why Dane would do it. Barbra finds out and lets Batman and the others know that Dane has no son, and that Dane doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, as Harvey Dent recovers in Gotham Hospital, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Dent blames Batman for destroying his chances to become mayor, and will doing anything to stop him. Batman continues to work in secret while the world continues to believe that Bruce Wayne is dead. He visits the man known as the "Key." After a brief fight, Batman asks him to tell him everything he knows about Dane; The Key tells them a man by the name of Slade Wilson paid him for the forgeries. After getting his answer, he and Katana leave. They learn that Slade Wilson was possibly a disguised Dane. Alfred finally tells them where he went and why. Alfred tells him that he was his protege, but when he became reckless and started abusing his power, Alfred was forced to stop him. Slade Wilson was discharged by Alfred's recommendation, and in retaliation tried to kill Alfred but failed. Slade Wilson disappear, and Alfred left Bruce to find him and make peace. Alfred was led to believe that he was dead, but in secret Slade Wilson was trained to be a mercenary, and often change his appearance to avoid detection. They wonder why go through all the trouble, unless it was for something bigger. Deathstroke, and Dane are of the same man: Slade Wilson. He also know that Bruce Wayne is alive because he knows that he is Batman. Slade feels Alfred betrayed him, and wants to prove him wrong. He wants them to watch as he becomes someone better than the next person Alfred trained: Bruce, who later became Batman. He came to Gothem when he heard Alfred was searching for him, he then made sure Dent would go for the special position in the Police Force, and then connect Alfred to Bruce/Batman. Slade makes the necessary events happen, to twist things to his perfection. Also to guarantee, that he becomes Batman and Alfred's favorite "son." Batman declares that the way to stop him, is to twist everything back. Anarky visits Dent in the hospital, who plans to leave the hospital; Anarky asks if their plan will continue, Dent answers yes, but first he has some lose ends to tie up. They visit the women who has been making him look bad, and give her a choice: drop out of the race for mayor or die, she agrees. Batman goes to the media to tell his side of the story. They then visit Dent's "friend," and force him enacts martial law in Gotham, instructing the police to hunt down Batman and bring him to justice... dead or dead. At the interview, he declares that he is the only justice this city needs, and that Bruce was a problem that needed to be dealt with. After the interview, it turns out he said those things to bait the cops, then it is Slade Wilson's move. Gordon tries to stop Dent's martial law, but quits when he sees he can't do anything about it. At the location, chosen by Batman the police surround him. Anarky warns that Batman is smarter than he looks, that it is a set up, but Dent doesn't listen. Batman and Katana discuss if Deathstroke will show, Batman believes he will since he changes his plans, while Katana is unsure, and hopefully before the police storm the building. Batman and Katana begin taking care of the police. They run into Dent, is was about to kill them, when one of his guards knocks him out, turning out to be Slade Wilson. Gordan arrives by Batman instructions, but is easily taken out by Slade. While Batman checks on Gordan, Slade attempts to escape and Katana goes after him in the helicopter. The two fight, and the helicopter starts to go down; Batman gives Gordan treatment, then follows after seeing the helicopter going down. Batman arrives and joins the fight, he tells Batman that this was not as he planned. Batman tells him sorry to disappoint him, but Slade says like wise and causes Katana to fall out. Batman attempts to save her, but with held by Wilson, and they crash. To be continued........

Continuing from the last episode, both Batman and Katana survive their encounters with death, although they are unsure on how they survive. Batman's belt is missing; he thinks that it was lost in the explosion, but it is shown that Slade has it. As Batman and Katana fight their way through the GCPD and the SCU, Deathstroke makes his escape in the Batmobile, by using the belt. By the time Batman and Katana have eluded the police, their worst fears have been realized: Deathstroke has found the Batcave and taken Alfred hostage. And if Batman ever wants to see Alfred alive again, he must come to the mansion... alone. Meanwhile, Anarky wakes up Harvey Dent, telling of their victory in the death of Batman. Dent believes it should have been by their hands, not Deathstroke's. He reveals his true nature as Two-Face and breaks off his partnership with Anarky, by trying to kill him. Both Katana and Batman know it is a trap, and Batman must go to save him. Katana tells him he is not alone, and that she can help, but Batman says no. After he leaves she calls Barbra and catches a ride. Anarky tries to kill him, but Gordan stops him. Before he leaves, he welcomes Dent to the game. Dent leaves, but not before telling him that "they," are interested in running for mayor. Gordan wonders what did he mean. Batman arrives, and Deathstroke taunts him. Barbra arrives and Katana gives her a mask, so she can go by Oracle in front of Katana friends, Man-Bat and Matamorpher. They are head to the mansion. Meanwhile, Batman is facing the training system under Deathstroke's control, as he is avoiding the obstacles, Batman demands he let Alfred go. Deathstroke refuses, that it is about both of them, and he will be so happy when he is dead and he takes his place. Deathstroke proclaims to Alfred that his "sons," have come home, one a hero, another a villain. That tonight he will watch as one dies; Alfred proclaims that what happen between them is in the past. However because of his snooping, it cause people to try to kill him. That it was Alfred's fault that he lost everything, and to replace him with Bruce/Batman was the last straw. Deathstroke wonder why he chose him, maybe for the money; Alfred tells him that he chose him because he saw something in him that he didn't see in Deathstroke: Empathy and Compassion for life. That Bruce/Batman were a better man than he ever was. Deathstroke begins beating him, and Alfred begs him to stop. Deathstroke pushes him away, but Batman pushes him back away from Alfred. With him distracted, Alfred manages to give Batman the ability to get free. Deathstroke says that they both have one thing in common: planning ahead. He has set the cave to explode unless he dies by his hand or watch everything he worked for be destroy. Batman says he forgot the third choice and begins attacking him. He drops the trigger, and says that only he can stop it. Batman says that he will just have to convince him to disarm the bombs, and they continue to fight.
Batman defeats him and frees Alfred, but he returns and the fight continues, just as the others are arriving. Batman tells the other to disarm the bombs while he deals with Deathstroke. Oracle is able to use the detonator to determine where the bombs are and soon they begin gathering the bombs. Metamorpho contains the explosion and saves everyone.
In a final battle, Batman defeats him, but if they hand them over to the police, he will reveal his identity to everyone. Alfred says maybe not, and tells his friends what will happen if his identity is revealed. He asks their friends if they can erase Slade's memories. Batman says he can't let Alfred do this, but he has to, in order for him to continue keeping Gotham safe. It works, and Batman realizes that he is not alone any more. Elsewhere, Anarky in a chess game, praises him for his abilities, and asks to play again.

Note: At the end, it is implied that Batman, Katana, Oracle, Man-Bat, and Metamorpho form the Outsiders.

On February 18, 2014, the first 13 episodes of the series were released on Blu-ray and DVD in a collection titled Beware The Batman: Season 1 Part 1-Shadows of Gotham.[40] The twelfth and thirteenth episodes (titled "Attraction" and "Fall") had yet to air, despite being released on this collection.[41] A second collection, titled Beware The Batman: Season 1 Part 2-Dark Justice, was released on September 30, 2014 containing the remaining 13 episodes of the show's only season.